The Group of Death contains two former No. 1s, a No. 2, and last year’s US Open semifinalist and quarterfinalist among other floaters…Tough starts for (5) Svitolina vs. the grasscourt title-winner Maria, (21) Sevastova vs. Giorgi, (32) Radwanska vs. Safarova 2nd rd., and (2) Wozniacki vs. Makarova 2nd rd…(25) Serena’s early path is former world No. 1 junior Arantxa Rus, a qualifier/wildcard, then (5) Svitolina, then (10) Keys.

The French Open begins Sunday with a star-studded line-up including two former French Open champions, Jelena Ostapenko who opens her title defense and qualifier Francesca Schiavone. For the women, former runner-up Venus Williams plays her 21st French Open and four seed and tournament favorite Elina Svitolina embarks on her bid not just for a first [...]

“I obviously have an incredible amount of respect for Venus, but you kind of have to take the name out of it and just focus on the tennis part and play one point at a time and use your tactics that you come up with your coaches,” Collins told the media.

“When you play a player like Angie…you have to execute your game well,” said Stephens, who hit 11 winners in the 23-minute first set, and on Monday will debut in the Top 10 for the first time on the WTA rankings. “And then you have to make sure that when you are executing your game you stick with it. Like a lot of times you can venture off and start, you know, doing other things.”

“I always knew that she can produce a great game,” Svitolina said regarding Osaka. “All the times we played, we played quite a bit now…I think I was playing pretty solid today, serving good. This was the key for today. Making it physical, as well.”